Higher Walton Church of England Primary School, Preston

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Higher Walton Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a well-designed curriculum that is ambitious and relevant to the pupils at the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Staff ensure that children benefit from a well-designed environment that nurtures children's curiosity across all areas of learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a culture in which they welcome and support pupils with a range of needs to succeed, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are ambitious for the wellbeing and academic progress of pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Some pupils do not achieve as well as they should."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Over time, attendance has been below national averages."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their work to improve attendance, including for pupils who are disadvantaged, so that pupils attend school regularly"; "Leaders should further improve the effectiveness of the teaching of writing across key stage 2, so that pupils' attainment rises and pupils achieve as well as they can"; "Leaders should sharpen their monitoring of the impact of provision on disadvantaged pupils so that gaps in these pupils' knowledge are closed further".

In its own words: "Thank you for your interest in Higher Walton Church of England Primary School, a small and welcoming rural school where every child is known, valued and encouraged to flourish. Our Christian vision, "Life in all its fullness" (John 10:10) , is at the heart of everything we do."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Higher Walton CE Primary School, our children sit at the heart of all we do. As a small school, we know our children and our families well and endeavour to create 'Life in all its fullness' (John 10:10) for everyone that comes here."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, athletics, dance and choir.

The school runs after-school care until 5:30pm.

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 1 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Higher Walton Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 62% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Higher Walton Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 28 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Higher Walton Church of England Primary School are Coupe Green Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 63% reading, 63% maths); Bamber Bridge St Aidan's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, 45% reading, 25% maths); Brindle Gregson Lane Primary School (1 mile); and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle (1 mile, Good, 93% reading, 93% maths).

Higher Walton Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

34.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 18 pupils (22.2%) received SEN support and 2 (2.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

The nearest railway station is Bamber Bridge Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hawthorne Avenue (by), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 55 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

In 2024/25, Higher Walton Church of England Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 8.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Higher Walton Church of England Primary School are Walton-Le-Dale High School (0.8 miles) and Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School (1.1 miles).